Hero Games has announced that they will be releasing the 6th edition of their venerable Hero System in August. This 6th of the rules reflects changes based on the experiences of lead designer (and long time industry veteran), Steve Long as well as changes they felt would enhance the release of the Champions MMO later this year by Mythic Entertainment (the Hero System is the underlying rules system for Champions) – though rumor has it that some of the changes will allow the translation of characters from the MMO to the pen and paper RPG. The first two books in the new line will be released at Gencon:      

• The Hero System 6th Edition: Characters which seems to be a player’s handbook of sorts for $39.99
• The Hero System 6th Edition: Combat and Adventuring (not Advertising as has been reported elsewhere…) which looks like it will have the basic game mechanics and will sell for $39.99

Hero Games will be releasing a number of other books this year to support the release, including a shortened rulebook (128 pages is shortened???), a martial arts sourcebook and a new version of the Champions Universe sourcebook (a who’s who in the Champions superhero universe).

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Privateer Press has announced that open testing of their Warmachine Mk II rules will begin on April 6th. On that date, players will be able to download the new rules from the field test site, although registration will be required (this is a beta test folks, not a free rules release!). It goes without saying that we’ll be downloading the rules and providing you with the details on what’s changed, different and improved (and whether it’ll get me excited about the game again…).

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To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Shadowrun, Catalyst Games has announced the release of the 4th Edition 20th Anniversary Core Rulebook (doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue…). This beastly full color tribute includes all of the 4th edition rules, a 22-page master index (which covers the core rulebook and the core expansions for the game) and re-described rules to improve readability. Not content to simple re-release things we all already own (you do own a copy, right?), Catalyst is also releasing several other projects, including a new boxed set, the Runner’s Toolkit, which includes an adventure, a book of adventure seeds, new fiction, reference cards and a book of tables (could you pack any more stuff in there guys?).

What’s that? You have no idea what Shadowrun is??? Shadowrun is one of the oldest RPGs still in publication, blending a cyberpunk future ruled by international mega corporations and hard core fantasy elements like elves, dragons and vampires. If you’ve never experienced it before, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

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